West Utica bat garden earns certification

What started as a conservation project is now a full, certified bat garden

Thanks to a series of community grants, West Utica Elementary students
have planted and nurtured a garden with bat-friendly plants.

The garden was recently inspected and certified by the Organization for Bat Conservation.

The idea for a garden originally sprouted out of a environmental unit
coordinated earlier this year with the Michigan-based conservation
group.

Students and staff wanted to take their efforts to the next level by
seeking grants to establish a "bat garden" in the school's courtyard.

The bat grant proposal grew from its roots through w$8,500 in successful
grants: $5,000 from Lowe's, $2,000 from Kensington Church and a $1,500
Scott's Miracle Grow Grant.

In May, the effort got under way with volunteers from Kensington Church
clearing the school's courtyard to prepare for the garden. The plants
were delivered by Telly's Greenhouse the last week of school and planted
by the students.

One side of the courtyard has plants that will attract bugs for the
bats, which are an endangered species. The other side will have a
vegetable garden, including squash, brussel sprouts, cabbage, sweet
peppers and - much the excitement of the students - pumpkins.

Fourth grader Haley Dobbs said she feels the students are making a
difference in their conservation efforts. "We are able to save the
bats," she said. "We also will have vegetables this fall that we can
eat."

Students visited the school once a week to water and maintain their garden.